Recalled defender Stephen Ward handed Wolves a dream start after just four minutes. That was about as good as it got for Wanderers as Sean Scannell levelled midway through the first half.

The crunch clash was then decided in the space of seven second-half minutes as Roger Johnson spurned a great opening which proved costly as Town substitute Jermaine Beckford pounced to put Huddersfield ahead in the 69th minute.

Beckford added a sublime lobbed second almost immediately from the resulting kick-off and, just as quickly, Wolves were reduced to 10 men as Jamie O'Hara raised his hands in the direction of Keith Southern.

But there was only one side in it during some frantic early exchanges and, after Bjorn Sigurdarson had headed wide, Ward handed Wanderers a precious early advantage.

Sigurdarson found Kevin Doyle and from the left side of the penalty area the home skipper sent a ball across for Ward to convert from 12 yards.

Out of nowhere Town were level just before the half hour mark with their first shot on target - Scannell turning Matt Doherty and striding into the penalty area past another player before sending a superb effort into the far bottom corner.

The equaliser inspired Town and Adam Clayton was only denied by brave goalkeeping by Dorus De Vries before Oliver Norwood saw his long-range shot deflected wide.

Johnson was handed a glorious chance to put Wanderers in front in the 65th minute but could only drag his shot horribly wide from 12 yards.

And the miss proved costly just minutes later as Huddersfield took the lead.

Vaughan's header from Norwood's corner brought a great save from De Vries but Beckford was on hand to tap home from close range.

And the former Everton striker grabbed his second and Town's third just a minute later, lobbing De Vries having been sent clear after Wolves made a mess of the resulting kick-off.

Matters went from bad to worse for Wolves from the subsequent kick-off as O'Hara was sent off for raising his hands in the direction of Southern.